File container assembly



Nov. 11, 1969 E. A. DAHL, JR 3,477,567

FILE CONTAINER ASSEMBLY Filed May 1, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Java 07" fl zzsz Qflak, J?!

J/ 56 52 8E 04W, 7% Ma a/14% United States Patent 3,477,567 FILE CONTAINER ASSEMBLY Ernest A. Dahl, Jr., 729 Greenwood Ave., Wilmette, Ill. 60091 Filed May 1, 1967, Ser. No. 635,157 US Int. Cl. B07c /34; B42f 21/00, 19/00 209-1I1.8 6 Claims AIZSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a magnetic file assembly having a base wall, sidewalls and apair of mounting' channels formed by a single integral extrusion to provide a rigid unitary body for supporting first and second magnet means in a predetermined relationship with data-bearing members.

File container assemblies are commonly made of a. plurality of spot welded or otherwise interconnected sheets of material. The number of sheetsof material required for fabricating a file container assembly is increased when magnets are mounted on sides of the file container assembly to fan apart or separate data-bearing members within the file container assembly. Due to the relatively large number .of pieces of material which must be interconnected, prior art file container assemblies are relatively diflicult and expensive to manufacture. I

The difliculties in fabricating prior magnetic file container assemblies are increased substantially by the necessity of accurately positioning the magnets relative to databearing members or sheets filed in the container assembly. This difficulty results from the fact that the intensity of a magnetic field emanating from a magnet decreases as a function of the square of the distance from the magnet. Thus, the magnetic field of an inch from a magnet is four times as strong as the magnetic field of an inch from a magnet. If the magnets of a magnetic file container assembly are too close to data cards stored in the file container assembly, the magnetic fields emanating from the magnets will attract metallic inserts within the data cards and pull the data cards transverelyinto engagement with the sides of the file container assembly. Friction forces between the edge of the cards and the sides of the file con" tainer assembly will then substantially retard tliefanning or separating action of the magnetic fields on the file data cards. On the other hand, when the magnets are positioned too far from the cards, the fanning or separating action is reduced due to the rapid reduction in strength of the mag netic fieldwit h increasing distance. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately position the magnets of a magnetic file container assembly relative to data-bearing members filed in the assembly. i

Those skilled in the art have developed methods for accurately fabricating magnetic file'container assemblies from a plurality of sheets'of material which are interconnected by spot welding or other means. While the practice of these methods is relatively difficult and time consuming, the magnets of the resulting file container assembly are accurately positioned relative to data-bearing members within thecontainer assembly. However, during use, the file container assemblies are frequently bumped, dropped or otherwise subject to abuse. This abusive use usually results in the magnets being moved either inwardly or outwardly from their original position. Naturally, the efficiency of operation of a magnetic file container whose magnets have been dislocated is-substantially reduced.

' Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a magnetic file container assembly which overcomes the aforementioned shortcomings of prior art structures. Spe cifically, it is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive magnetic file-container assembly having a rigid Patented Nov. 11, 1969 unitary body portion for supporting a plurality of magnets and a plurality of file cards in a predetermined relationship.

It is another object of this invention to provide a rugged magnetic file container assembly which can withstand abusive treatment or use. I V

Another object of this invention is to provide a method for quickly and easily assembling a magnetic file card assembly.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic illustration of the formation of an elongated extrusion by forcing metal through adie;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a file container assembly having a body section formed by cutting the extrusion of FIG. 1, the file container assembly being shown with some of its components spaced apart from the body section for purposes of clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a magnet assembly used with the file container assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the file container assembly with control members or spacer plates mounted in the file container assembly;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a lower end portion of the spacer plates illustrating the structure of a pair of tongues which engage a bottom wall of the file container assembly;

FIG. 6 is an enlarge perspective view illustrating the relationship of a transversely extending ear or tab of the spacer plates of FIG. 4 to an upper portion of the file container assembly;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 4, futher illustrating the structure of the file container assembly;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a juncture or connection between a sidewall of the file container and a mounting channel or housing for the magnet assembly of FIG. 3, the mounting channel being oflset outwardly relative to the sidewall;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 7, further illustrating the interrelationship of the spacer plates, data-bearing members, and the sidewalls of the file container assembly;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 7, illustrating the relationship of the magnet assembly of FIG. 3 to the housing or mounting channel, the sidewall of the body section and to a pair of end, members or handles; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10, illustrating the interrelationship of the magnet assembly, the housing or mounting channel of the body section, one of the end handles, and a panel for blocking a longitudinally extending aperture in the mounting channel or housing.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, an extrusion 20 formed by forcing metal through a die 22 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The extrusion 20 can have any desired length and includes a pair of spaced apart, parallel side sections 24 and 26. The side sections 24 and 26 are interconnected by a base wall or section 28 so that the extrusion 20 has a generally U-shaped cross sec tional configuration. The side section 24includes an upstanding sidewall or panel 30 and a longitudinally extending housing or mounting channel 32. Similarly, the side section 26 includes an upstanding sidewall 34 and a longitudinally extending housing or mounting channel 36. The relatively long extrusion 20 is cut or severed, as indicated by dashed lines 40 in FIG. 1, to form a plurality 3 of unitary body sections 42. The body sections 42 are cut from the same extrusion 20 and all have the same generally U-shaped cross sectional configuration or shape.

However, the body sections 42 can be cut to varying lengths as a function of the length of a file container assembly to be formed from a particular body section. Thus, each of the body sections 42 has the same width, that is the same distance between the sidewalls 30 and 34, and the same height, that is the same distance from the bottom wall 28 to uppermost surfaces of the mounting channels 32 and 36. However, the length of the body sections 42 can be varied by merely cutting or severing the extrusion 20 at transverse planes spaced varying distances apart.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a magnetic file container assembly 46 is formed or fabricated by mounting a pair of magnet assemblies 48 in the opposite mounting channels 32 and 36 of the body sections 42. The structure of the magnet assemblies 48 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3 and includes a longitudinally extending base or mounting plate 52 of a magnetizable material, such as iron, upon which a plurality of magnets 54 are mounted. The magnet assembly 48 is slid through an open end of the mounting channels 32 and 36 into the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. After the magnet assemblies 48 have been slid into the mounting channels, side panels or members 58 are positioned to block a longitudinally extending slot or aperture 60 formed on an inner side of the mounting channels 32 and 36 and laterally snugly trap the magnet assemblies therein. As is perhaps best seen in FIG. 2, a pair of opposite end members or handles 64 and 66 are then mounted in transversely extending relationship relative to the body section 42 to retain the magnet assemblies 48 and panels 58 against movement relative to the mounting channels 32 and 36 to complete the assembly of the file container 46 which then appears as shown in FIG. 4.

The file container 46 has a rigid unitary or one-piece body section 42. The body section 42 is integrally formed to provide sidewalls 30 and 34 and a base wall 28 for supporting magnetically responsive file cards 70 (see FIG. 7) intermediate the magnet assemblies 48 in the mounting channels 32, 36. The magnet assemblies 48 cooperate with metallic inserts 72 to fan apart or separate the databearing cards or members 70, as shown at 76 in FIG. 9, and explained in U.S. Patent No. 2,954,032 to Ernest A. Dahl, Sr. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that magnetic file container assemblies 46 can be formed in any desired cross-sectional shape to accommodate data-bearing card members 70 of various shapes. Once a die 22 having the desired cross-sectional shape has been formed, file containers 46 of any desired length can be fabricated from extrusions 20 from the die by merely cutting or severing the extrusion to form body sections 42 of the desired length. The body sections 42, handles 64 and 66, and panels 58 are all made of aluminum, a preferred embodiment of the invention, and are anodized with a coating of a desired color in a known manner to provide an aesthetically pleasing file container assembly.

Referring once again to FIG. 4, a plurality of spacer plates or control members 80 are mounted between the sidewalls 30 and 34 of the body section 42 to divide the file container 46 into a plurality of sections to facilitate searching and separating of the file cards 70. The spacer plates 80 include a pair of downwardly extending generally L-shaped tongues or mounting legs 82 which are best seen in FIGS. and 9. The L-shaped mounting legs 82 extend through transversely extending apertures 84 in spaced apart, parallel inwardly projecting or raised sections 86 and 88 of the base wall 28 (see FIGS. 7 and 9). The mounting legs 82 enable the spacer plates 80 to pivot relative to the sidewalls 30 and 34 of the file container assembly 46 as indicated by the arrow 90 in 4 FIG. 9. The legsections 82 include an outwardly projecting foot 92 (see FIG. 9) which engages the base wall 28 to prevent the spacer plates from being withdrawn from the file container assembly 46. The leg sections 82 of the spacer plates 80 are inserted into the apertures 84 by positioning the spacer plates, as shown at the right of FIG. 9, and pressing the lower end por-. tion of the spacer plate downwardly to resiliently deform or bend the leg section 82 and snap the leg section into the apertures 84. 1

A pair of transversely projecting bumpers or stop assemblies 96 are formed at opposite outer upper ends of the spacer plates 80 to limit the pivoting movement of the spacer plates relative tothe mounting channels 32 and 36 and sidewalls 30 and 34 of the file container assembly 46. The structure of the stop assemblies 9 6 is illustrated in detail in FIG. 6 and includes an outwardly projecting ear or tab 98 which is integrally formed with the spacer'plate 80. The outwardly projecting ear or tab is encased in a resilient shield or cover 100 of asuitable polymeric material. The shield or cover 100 eliminates noise which would otherwise be present when the spacer plates 80 are pivoted relative to the sidewalls 30 and 34 of the file container assembly 46. The resilient shield100 engages an upper surface 102 of the mounting channels 32 and 36 to limit the movement of thespacer plates 80 relative to the mounting channels. Of course, the arcuate distance through which the spacer plates 80 can pivot is determined by the height of the stop assemblies 96 above the upper surface 102 of the mounting channels.

Referring now to FIG. 7, it can be seen that the base wall 28 includes a central section 108 which is integrally formed with and extends outwardly relative to the side sections 86 and 88 to engage a support surface 110. A pair of longitudinally extending side legs 112 and 114 also engage the support surface 110 to support the file container assembly 46 against rocking or sidewise movement. The combination of the support legs 112 and 114 and the central section 108 distributes the weight of the file container assembly 46 over a relatively large area of the support surface and prevents the support surface from being marred or otherwise deformed by the file container assembly.

The mounting channels 32 and 36 are substantially identical in construction; therefore only the structure of the mounting channel 36 will be considered in detail, it being understood that the mounting channel 32 is substantially similar in structure.

Continuing with reference to FIG. 7, the mounting channel 36 includes an upright, side section 118 which is connected to the sidewall 34 by a transversely extending base or lower section 120. An upper or top section 122 is integrally formed with the side section 118 and extends parallel to the base section 120. A pair of inwardly extending lips or flanges 124 and 126 define the longitudinally extending aperture of slot 60. The slot 60 opens into a chamber or mounting cavity 130 defined by the sections 118 to 122 of the mounting channel. The magnet assembly 48 is positioned in the chamber 130with the base or mounting plate 52 in abutting engagement with an inner surface of the side section 118. Panel 58 engages interior surfaces of the flanges 126 to position the panel relative to the aperture 60 and to provide a closed housing for the magnet assembly 48. It should be noted that the construction of the file container assembly 46 is facilitated by the ease with which the magnet assembly 48 and panel 58 are slid into place in the mounting channel 36.

Referring now to FIG. 8, taken in connection with FIG. 7, it can be seen that the flange 124 is offset at a joint or juncture 134 between the sidewall 34 and mounting channel 36. This offset at 134 is necessary to position the magnet assembly 48 relative to the metallic inserts 72 in the data cards 70'. Since the intensity of the field decreases as a function of a square of the distance betweenthe magnets 54 and 72, it is necessary to accurately position the magnet assembly 48 relative to the data cards 70 in order to have the desired interaction between the metallic inserts 72 and the magnets 54 to obtain a smooth fanning or separating of the file cards. Since the magnet assembly 48 is retained in juxtaposition with the side section 118 of the mounting channel 36 by engagement of an inner surface of the panel 58 with the magnets 54, the mounting channel ,36 and panel 58 accurately position the magnet assembly 48 relative to the metallic inserts 72 in the data cards 70. It should be noted that the accurate positioning of the magnet assembly 48 relative to the metallic inserts 72 is facilitated by extruding the body section 42 of the file uontainer assembly 46 since extrusions can normally be held to relatively close tolerances with a minimum of effort. In addition, the side sections 118 through 122 of the mounting channel 36 are rigid and resist bending or deformation during the severest use.

The magnet assemblies 48 and panel 58 are restrained against longitudinal movement relative to the mounting channels 32 and 36 by end portions 140 of the handles 64 and 66 (see FIGS. and 11 taken in conjunction with FIG. 2). The end portions 140 of the handles 64 and 66 project into the chamber 130 intermediate the panel 58 and side section 118 of the mounting channel 36 as is perhaps best seen in FIG. 11. The handles 64 and 66 are fixedly connected to the mounting channels 32 and 36 by a suitable connection means such as screws 144. The end portions 140 of the handles 64 and 66 have an innermost surface 146 which engages the magnet assembly 48 (FIG. 11). The panel 58 has an outermost end surface 148 which engages an inner surface of a body section 150 of the handles 64 and 66 to positon the panel 58 relative to the side section 118 of the mounting channel. Thus, the handles 64 and 66 extend transversely across the body section 42 to interconnect the opposite mounting channels 32 and 36 and position the magnet assembly 48 and panel 58 relative to the mounting channels.

The magnet assembly 48 is shown in considerable detail in FIGS. 3 and 10 and includes a plurality of relatively inexpensive ceramic, non-oriented magnets 54 which attract the base or mounting plate 52 to fixedly hold the magnets relative to the mounting plate. The magnets 54 are polarized so that opposite fiat or face surfaces 154 of the magnets have opposite polarity as indicated by the indicia in FIG. 7. The magnets 54 are positioned on the mounting plates 52 with inner surfaces of a common polarity against the mounting plate, for example all of the north poles of the magnets 54 in FIG. 10 might be positioned against the mounting plate 52 while all of the south poles are positioned outwardly toward the viewer. This orientation of the poles of the magnets 54 results in a magnet assembly 48 which acts substantially as a single long magnet. However, the magnets 54 tend to repel each other since they are mounted on the plate 52 with similar poles adjacent to each other. Therefore, adhesive tape 158 is wrapped around the end magnets 54 to prevent the magnets from moving longitudinally relative to the base plate 52 and each other. Of course, other connection or retaining means could be used to prevent the magnets from separating in a longitudinal direction.

The manner in which the present invention may be practiced, and the purpose to which it may be put are evident from the foregoing description. However, for purposes of affording a more complete understanding of the invention, it is advantageous now to provide a functional description of the mode in which the present invention may be practiced.

In practicing the present invention, an extrusion having a predetermined cross section will be formed by the use of a suitable die 22. The extrusion 20 will be cut or severed, as indicated by the dashed lines 40, to form body sections 42 for file container assemblies 46. The body sections 42 of the file container assemblies include a. pair of spaced apart sidewalls 30 and- 34 which are interconnected bya base wall 28 to support a plurality of data-bearing cards or members 70. a a

The unitary extruded body section 42 will also include a pair of opposite mounting channels or housing 32 and 36 in which magnet assemblies 48 will be slid. A pair of opposite panel members 58 will then be slid into a blocking relationship with longitudinally extending apertures 60 in the mounting channels. The panels 58 will hold the magnet assemblies in place within the channels and insure that the magnetassemblies 48 are positioned in a predetermined transverse spatial relationship with the metallic inserts 72 of the data cards 70.. After the magnet assemblies 48' and panels 58 have been positioned in the channels 32 and 36, the handles 64 and 66 will be connected to the side sections 118 of the channels. The magnet assemblies 48 and panels 58 will be retaied against longitudinal movement by the handles 64 and 66.

A plurality of spacer plates will be pivotally connected to the base wall 28 of the file container assembly 46. The spacer plates limit the quantity of cards which are fanned apart in any given time due to the influence of magnetic field emanating from the magnet assemblies 48. Thus, the spacer plates 80 will insure that only the cards between the plates which are angled inwardly toward each other are fanned apart, as indicated at 76 in FIG. 9.

In view of the foregoing remarks, it will be apparent that the use of an extruded unitary or integral body section 42 enables magnetic file card assemblies 46 of any desired length to be easily and inexpensively fabricated. The relatively rigid nature of the extruded aluminum body section 42 and the close tolerances which can be economically achieved by extruding insures that the magnet assemblies 48 will be positioned at all times in a predetermined spatial relationship with data cards stored between the magnet assemblies. The strong, rigid mounting channels 32 and 36 eliminate almost all possibility of a dislocation or movement of the magnet assemblies due to rough or abusive use or handling.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting channels 32 and 36 have been shown with longitudinally extending apertures 60 in which mounting panels 58 are mounted to completely enclose the magnet assemblies 48. It is contemplated that the body section 42 could, if desired, be formed with a pair of spaced apart, integral side sections to completely circumscribe the magnet assemblies 48. It is also contemplated that magnet assemblies other than the one illustrated could be used with the body section 42. Of course, the body section 42 could, if desired, have a configuration other than the specific one illustrated.

What is claimed is:

1. A file assembly comprising: first and second spaced apart sidewalls interconnected by a base wall for holding a plurality of data-bearing sheet members; a first mounting channel connected to said first sidewall and including an outwardly offset channel wall substantially parallel to said first side wall and inwardly extending upper and lower flange portions at least partially defining a first longitudinally extending and inwardly opening slot; a second mounting channel connected to said second sidewall and including an outwardly offset channel wall substantially parallel to said second side wall and inwardly extending upper and lower flange portions at least partially defining a second longitudinally and inwardly opening slot; a first substantially flat and elongated stationary magnet means positioned in said first mounting channel for magnetically separating said data-bearing sheet memhers; a second substantially flat and elongated stationary magnet means positioned in said second mounting channel for magnetically separating said data-bearing sheet members; a first panel slidably mounted in said first mounting channel and disposed substantially in alignment with said first side wall for closing the first slot and laterally snugly trapping said first magnet means between said first channel wall and said first panel; a second panel slidably mounted in said second mounting channel and disposed substantially in alignment with said second side wall for closing said second slot and laterally snugly trapping said second magnet means between said second channel wall and said second panel; a first member extending between said first and second channels and en gaging adjacent ends of said first and second magnet means and said first and second panels; and a second member extending between said first and second channels and engaging the opposite adjacent ends of said first and second magnet means and said first and second panels and cooperating with said first member to fixedly locate said first and second magnet means and said first and second panels and prevent movement thereof relative to said first and second sidewalls.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein: both said first and second magnet means include a longitudinally extending base plate of a magnetizable material and.a plurality of permanent magnets mounted on said base plate by magnetic attraction.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein: permanent magnets located adjacent to opposite end portions of said base plate are secured to said base plate with adhesive tape and permanent magnets intermediate the permanent magnets at opposite portions of said base plate are secured to said base plate by only magnetic attraction between the permanent magnets and said base plate.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said first and second sidewalls, said base wall and said first and second mounting channels are integrally formed from a single extrusion to provide a rigid unitary body section 3 for the file assembly.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein: said base wall includes a first section locatcd'adjacent to said first sidewall, a second section located adjacent to said second sidewall and an intermediate section located be.- tween said first and second sections, said first and second sections being located inwardly of said intermediate sec: tion to support the data-bearing sheet members in a spaced apart relationship with said intermediate section, said intermediate section being positioned for engagement with a base surface to support, the file'assembly relative to said base surface. a I

6. A file assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the end portions of. said panels and the adjacent end portions of the outer wall of each channel provide end chambers beyond the ends of said magnet means and ,in' which inwardly directed end portions of the first .and second members project to engage adjacent ends of the magnet TIRE-HS.

References Cited UNITED sTAT s PATENTS 2,272,537 2/1942 West 1'29 16X 2,574,870 11/1951 Gunn, 2,871,862 2/1959 Mathiesen.

2,954,032 9/1960 Dahl.

2,984,243 5/1961 Mathiesen. 3,109,432 11/1963 Regenhardt 129- 31 3,199,513 8/1965 Mathiesen.

3,302,650 2/1967 SIllCkel.

FOREIGN PATENTS 230,848 12/1963 Austria. 1,199,272 6/1959 France.

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner 

